The very funny comedian Amy Schumer steps into her first film screen role in Trainwreck and she nails it. The newcomer who has taken the boob tube by storm with her bawdy Inside Amy Schumer, moves to a film venue with ease. Now on Blu-ray/DVD she delivers a hilarious story with a fine support cast that keeps it all together to its bizarre romantic ending. Much like her TV show the film uses many side vignettes that contribute to the central theme of trying to survive her screwed up life. It’s a lot of fun for the ladies and couples, but it’s only for adults only.
Living in New York many years after surviving her parents’ divorce, Amy (Amy Schumer) now works as a staff writer for S’Nuff, a noted magazine. Her boss Dianna (Tilda Swinton) has been promising her an executive editor position if she can pull off a good story that will wow the publisher. Following a meeting of suggested stories for the magazine, Dianna assigns Amy to an interview with Aaron Connors (Bill Hader) a sports doctor. Sports are a subject she knows nothing about and even wonders the relevance of it.
At her first meeting with Aaron, Amy blunders when asked about her sports knowledge. This causes Aaron to get leery of the reporter’s ability to capture his personality for the interview, but still thinks she’s charming. When meetings start getting more social than businesslike for Amy and Aaron, Amy seeks help from her sister Kim (Brie Larson) and her alcoholic father Gordon (Colin Quinn) who’s in an assisted living home.
The film goes on from there involving one wacky situation after another. Director Judd Apatow knows how to handle comedy, but at times the movie hits snags with long winded snippets of meaningless, although funny, moments that draw out his film. Most romantic comedies do very well up to an hour and 45 minutes, but Apatow stretches this one to over 2 hours. Admitted, Schumer can easily command the screen for the length of the film, but with comedy without action, less would have been best.
Still I did like the film very much, maybe because I became a fan of her uninhibited raucous comedy when assigned the review of the DVD for her first and second seasons of her television show. Openly politically incorrect, outwardly promiscuous she never holds back an outrageous comment. She’s a 21st century comedian who has developed a persona for today’s women. Much like Rosanne Barr embarrassed and cursed her way to the top of the ladder, Amy has the ability and modern times to take it even higher. In Trainwreck she gives her best performance saying out load what a lot of woman think in the situations she puts herself. Being the writer of the film it’s an uncanny look into her candidly frank mind about sex, drugs, booze and romance.
But, the film would have only been an extended TV episode of her show had it not been for the professional ensemble cast that makes the ordinary story, surprising good. While most of the film gets predictable, it’s the interaction between characters that wins applause. Bill Hader brings out the best of Schumer with his deadpan comedy letting her glom onto his sports medicine theme to practice her comedic charms. Hader’s character allows her humor to expound on comedy related to the likes of Lebron James, a bevy of cheerleaders and slam dunk basketball contest. Yet it’s the romance angle that binds the two actors in this fun story at the movies.
Speaking of Lebron James, I’m totally blown away with his performance. He’s very cool with his off handed delivery of lines that up the laughter for the males who drop in to see the film. I’m amazed that such a focused sportsman could work in comedy and become an important link in its success. Most notables are just walk-ons that give a film a jolt, James goes one step further as an actor and makes his character likeable and an integral part of the story.
BONUS FEATURES: On the Blu-ray Disc (DVD where indicated)
“Unrated Version” Click on this to see the whole movie with additional material that’s not rated by the MPAA (also on DVD)
“Deleted Scenes” more of Amy Schumer comedy that was taken out of the theatrical release. Maybe because the film was already very long. (also on DVD)
“Gag Reel” a quickie of mistakes during a scene take (also on DVD)
“Extended/Alternate Scenes”
“Behind-The-Scenes” – A look at the making of the film through the production as we follow alongside director Judd Apatow, cast members Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Norman Lloyd, Tilda Swinson, and Daniel Radcliff, as well as the rest of the cast.
“Directing Athletes: A Blood Sport” – The athletes of Trainwreck talk about their experiences under the direction of Judd Apatow.
“The Dogwalker” – Daniel Radcliffe plays the dogwalker in this film that Amy and Steven go see at the theater.
“Trainwreck Comedy Tour Featurette” – Take a peek backstage at the Trainwreck Comedy Tour featuring comedy all-stars Amy Schumer, Mike Birbiglia, Colin Quinn, Dave Atell, Vanessa Bayer and Judd Apatow.
“Red Band Trailer” for adults only after you have seen the film.
“Lin-o-rama” (also on DVD)
“Secrets of the WU” Method Man and Norman Lloyd talk about his music experience as part of the Wu Tang Clan and even invites Norman to join the Wu (also on DVD)
“Feature Commentary” with Director Judd Apatow, Writer/Star Amy Schumer, and Associate Producer Kim Caramele (also on DVD)
Trainwreck has been rated R by the MPAA for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some drug use. The sexuality gets way over the top with some meaningless scenes, the nudity more for women’s delight and the alcohol and drug use over stated.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A fun film that should keep the ladies commenting way after the movie credits roll. (B)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, LeBron James, Tilda Swinton, Brie Larson, Colin Quinn, John Cena, Daniel Radcliffe, Marisa Tomei
Directed by: Judd Apatow
Screenplay by: Amy Schumer
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some drug use
Running Time:2 Hrs. 5 Min.
Original Theatrical Release Date: July 17, 2015
Video Release Date: November 10, 2015
Language: English (changeable to French or Spanish)
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray (Also available as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack)
Audio: Blu-ray- Dolby Digital 5.1, DVD- Dolby Digital 2.0
Video:1080p HD Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.40:1, DVD- Anamorphic Widescreen
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Number of Discs: Blu-ray Combo pack 2 Discs, and Digital Download
Distributed by: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
